According to the LA Times, four Japanese citizens, otherwise barred from entering the United States for criminal activities, received liver transplants at UCLA. There has been no statement as to whether these patients were on a waiting list, and if so, where they placed. Nor has it been revealed what the etiology of the liver disease was – the major consideration in determining the candidacy for the transplant. One of the patients, reportedly a Yakuza Gang Boss, was helped by the FBI to obtain a US visa in the hope that he would provide the FBI with information in return…

Bernard W. Freedman, J.D.,M.P.H. is an attorney at law and an active member of the California State Bar since 1976. (State Bar number 70888). He has specialized in medical legal law and acted as consultant in clinical bioethics and...More...